Environmental monitoring and research for improved resilience on ARGOS farms

Abstract

This report outlines a rationale for proposed environmental monitoring on 136 farms participating
in the Agriculture Research Group on Sustainability (ARGOS) project. A transdisciplinary
research team of around 20 researchers, including sociologists, economists, farm management
experts and ecologists will assess the sustainability and socio-ecological resilience of farms and
orchards participating in organic, Integrated Management (IM), conventional farming systems
and Maori farming systems. The farming sectors represented range from (i) high-input:highoutput
agriculture for dairy and kiwifruit production (mainly in North Island New Zealand),
through (ii) medium-input:medium-output sheep and beef farming on the plains or rolling low hill
country of South Island, to (iii) very low-input-low-output sheep/beef farming in the South Island
High Country. A parallel study of Maori land use and sustainable development amongst Ngai
Tahu Runanga will include a variety of other farming approaches. A meta-analysis over all farm
sectors and farming systems will attempt to identify key drivers of change and barriers to
improved resilience. Researchers will monitor social, economic and environmental changes on
farms over the next 20 to 30 years as part of an ‘independent assessor’ role, but they will also
seek to help the participating farmers improve the sustainability and resilience of their enterprise
by acting as ‘involved assistors’. This report identifies fundamental approaches and ecological
processes to be researched mainly from an ecological point of view. Subsequent discussions
amongst the whole ARGOS team are likely to adjust the priorities to get the maximum
advantage from our expert sociological, economic, farm management and Maori colleagues.... [Show full abstract]